March 4, 2021
$1.00
An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 12
Centennial reaches a milestone
Former Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon, left, and Brian Vogt, one of the city’s founders, stand Feb. 23 near one of Centennial’s farthest-northeast city boundaries, along PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Reservoir Road near Quincy Avenue. The sign above them reads, “Welcome to Centennial Est. 2001.” The spot is near where Centennial meets Aurora.
City’s 20th anniversary sees suburb in a time of retail, housing shifts BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A
s a nearby city plotted to take control of major business corridors in the south metro area, some Arapahoe County resi-
dents — who, at the time, didn’t live within a city of their own — began to see what they stood to lose: sources of local government funding and, more importantly, the ability to determine their own destiny. So crowds from local neighbor-
hoods piled into Arapahoe High School in an event that kicked off what turned out to be 100 “community meetings” to solidify support for forming a city of their own. That first gathering “was filled to the brim,” said Brian Vogt, one
of the five founders of the City of Centennial. He added: “People were very smart and constantly educating themselves and others about the details — and a movement was born.” SEE ANNIVERSARY, P4
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
FAIR CHANCE OF FUN
Some local festivals and events could make comebacks this year P14